Nintendo Slashes ‘3DS’ Portable Price from $250 to $170

In the wake of a $324 million net loss over the past quarter, Nintendo has announced that its flagship glasses-free 3D portable gaming machine, the Nintendo 3DS, will be discounted by $80—from $250 down to $170—starting August 12.

That’s a pretty aggressive price drop, and one which is highlighted with an almost desperate quote from Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime, who says, “For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now. We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”

Nintendo’s most recent earnings report revealed that the company is expecting earnings through March 2012 to be “down 82 percent from its previous outlook,” according to the Associated Press, which adds, “The Kyoto-based company blamed its lackluster sales on a dearth of hit titles for the Wii and 3DS, as well as a strong yen.”

The Nintendo 3DS was launched in the U.S. back in late March, and Nintendo found its stock price at a 12-month low just two weeks later.

The company reports that 830,000 people have purchased the system in the U.S. since it launched. People who purchased the 3DS before its price drop on August 12 will be able to download 20 free games from the system’s built-in “eShop” as a reward “for getting in on the action early,” says Nintendo.